Alfredo Monza was born in Busto Arsizio on August 12 1911. He started playing football in the youth teams of his local club, Pro Patria, and debuted in Serie A on March 19, 1930 against Pro Vercelli. He was part of the reserves for a couple of years but then promoted to the first team starting from 1931-32.
After relegation, he signed for Livorno where he played for a couple of seasons proving to be one of the best left backs in the country. While in Tuscany he also played for the Italian National B team.
He signed for Lazio in 1935. He would go on to play 222 consecutive league games for the Biancocelesti, one of the best Lazio left backs of all time. The only goal he scored for Lazio was one to remember. An amazing shot from 60 metres in a Lazio-Bologna on November 5, 1939. He would play a total of 253 games for Lazio over 8 years. While in Rome he played another match with the Nazionale B against Czechoslovakia.
During the war, since he was in the army, he played in Northern Italy for Cremonese and Legnano, and ended his career with Vigevano, Crema and Rovereto.
With 376 Serie A total career appearances, he is one of the top 100 players with most games in the top tier.
After he retired he became a manager for L’Aquila for the 1953-54 season and then Pescara in 1957. In 1958 he was called to manage Lazio together with Dino Canestri and save the team from relegation which he did. In 1958-59 he was assistant to Fulvio Bernardini.
He invested his money in two hotels in Rome and remained in the capital. He never missed a Lazio game and occasionally also went to the away matches. In the 1970s he became very friendly with Luciano Re Cecconi.
In the last game of the triumphant 1973-74 scudetto season on May 19, 1974, Lazio had to play in Bologna and he went up to celebrate the title. On the road home in the early hours of May 20, there was a massive accident, as his bus with other supporters crashed into a lorry. Monza, as well as another two people, lost their lives.
Alfredo Monza was an exceptional player and wonderful human being. Above all, he was a Laziale.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances (goals) | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Mitropa Cup |
1935-36 | 33 | 30 | 3 | - |
1936-37 | 34 | 30 | - | 4 |
1937-38 | 33 | 30 | 1 | 2 |
1938-39 | 32 | 30 | 2 | - |
1939-40 | 32 (1) | 30 (1) | 2 | - |
1940-41 | 30 | 26 | 4 | - |
1941-42 | 32 | 30 | 2 | - |
1942-43 | 27 | 24 | 3 | - |
Total | 253 (1) | 230 (1) | 17 | 6 |
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